Page 113 of Twisted Alliance

Her eyes widened at his dark confession.

“B-but it was me who came to you and…” Her cheeks reddened as she reminded him of the times she had tried to seduce him and how each of those attempts ended.

His mouth twisted further, but this time in amusement. “Yes. I knew you wanted to seduce me to spy on me, but that didn’t stop me from claiming you. When you asked me to consummate our marriage in the desert tent, I knew it was too late to fight how I felt.”

“H-how did you feel?” she asked in a whisper.

He watched her face. “Like I would die if I didn’t touch you or kiss you or be inside you. You consumed me.”

She gasped, and her eyes moistened. “I was falling for you too,” she confessed. “I tried to fight my feelings, because for the longest time, I thought you were a ruthless fraud who wanted to gain control of the oil wells. But when I saw you speaking at the clan meeting, I knew you didn’t lie about being the heir.”

“Then why did you take the recording device from Devraj?” he asked.

Her eyes widened. “You knew?”

“Yes. Security informed me about Devraj’s presence at the hotel and the camera feed showed that you took the recording device from him.”

He was angry at that time. He showed it in his rough lovemaking, but she clung to him, driving him all the more crazier.

She let out a shuddering breath. “I wanted my brother to know the truth about you, Shivay. I foolishly thought that letting him spy on you would bring out the truth. I threw away the tracking device at the hotel, but when he came to ask for your phone, I foolishly went to him with it. I’m sorry.”

He wiped the tear that slid down her cheek. “A lot of things went wrong that day, Ishani,” he said. “But what matters is that there is still active danger. I want you to remain safe. If anything happens to you…”

He didn’t even want to imagine anything happening to her.

“Shivay, I know you care and feel protective about me. But—”

He cut her off. “I love you, Ishani,” he said. “I love you more than my damn life. And I would do anything to keep you safe, including ripping out my heart and staying away from you.”

There was a radiant smile on her face as she listened to his words. “You love me?” she whispered.

“Yes.”

“You’ll do anything to keep me safe?” she asked.

“Yes.”

Her smile widened. “Then keep me safe in your arms, Shivay. If you try to send me away, I’ll only come back to you. It’s easier if you let me remain here. I belong in my husband’s arms.”

He watched the determination on his wife’s beautiful face. “I should have gone for the Bhils or the Kanwars to pick an alliance bride,” he deliberately said. “I’m sure they would have listened to me and not been a meddling menace.”

She wasn’t offended. She laughed instead. “But you picked me and fell in love with me.”

He couldn’t deny it. He did fall in love with his beautiful and innocent yet stubborn wife. Cupping her face, he kissed her and then showed her how much he loved her.

EPILOGUE

Two months later…

San Francisco, USA

“That’s so beautiful, my child!”

Ishani slowly opened her eyes with a smile. She was seated on the garden deck and had just finished playing the bin instrument.

Mihir Thakvar sat on the garden chair in front of her along with his wife and Ishani’s mother. They were enjoying the music and sunset over the San Francisco skyline.

“Thank you, Papa.” She touched her forehead to the musical instrument before setting it aside.

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